Ukrainian Military Make Pilgrimage to Lourdes
The 65th International Military Pilgrimage to Lourdes, France, took place on May 16–18, drawing military personnel from 41 countries.
The event was reported by the Department of Military Chaplaincy.
Ukraine was represented by a delegation led by Bishop Bohdan Manyshyn, head of the Military Chaplaincy Department of the Patriarchal Curia of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, and Colonel Lyubomyr Yakibchuk, acting head of the Military Chaplaincy Service of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. They joined the international prayer for peace.
The Ukrainian group included families of fallen heroes, relatives of missing soldiers, active servicemen, wounded soldiers, veterans, cadets, and military chaplains.
This year’s pilgrimage was held under the slogan “Military Pilgrims of Hope.”
Addressing the participants, Bishop Bohdan Manyshyn stated: “In this pilgrimage, we are, in a sense, flowing into the great river of God’s love for all those who have donned the uniform.”
“This river is the common prayer of military personnel who come to Lourdes every year from all corners of the world to pray for peace. This place, where the military soul seeks refuge from a weary world, is especially important to us today,” he added.
As in previous years, Ukraine and its representatives received special attention during the pilgrimage to the Marian town of Lourdes. In particular, Ukrainian military personnel bearing yellow and blue flags led the flag procession at the solemn opening ceremony.
Pilgrimage participants also expressed deep respect and gratitude to the Ukrainian delegation for their resilience in the struggle for freedom and the defense of truth.
Reference
The International Military Pilgrimage is an annual event attended by military personnel from around the world. The tradition of pilgrimages to the miraculous site of Lourdes dates back to 1958, when French military personnel invited their German counterparts to join them and their families in praying for world peace. Since then, the number of participants has grown significantly, with representatives of military departments from over 40 countries now taking part. Since 1996, with the support of the Ministry of Defense, a delegation from the Armed Forces of Ukraine has also participated in the international pilgrimage. The event is held with the financial support of the Knights of Columbus.
The UGCC Department for Information
